Guidebook for Chicago

Ann
Guidebook for Chicago

Food Scene

Old-school bakery with fresh items baked daily. Now they have sandwiches and a little cafe, too!
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Dinkel's Bakery
3329 N Lincoln Ave
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Old-school bakery with fresh items baked daily. Now they have sandwiches and a little cafe, too!
In Chicago, one of the only places to get Southern food. There is often a wait on Sundays, so get there early.
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Wishbone Restaurant
3300 N Lincoln Ave
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In Chicago, one of the only places to get Southern food. There is often a wait on Sundays, so get there early.
Order to pick up or be delivered; you can eat there, but there isn't any table service. The crust is very good and the ingredients fresh.
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The Art of Pizza
3033 N Ashland Ave
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Order to pick up or be delivered; you can eat there, but there isn't any table service. The crust is very good and the ingredients fresh.
Gluten free pizza that is truly good!!!! Also good regular pizza and other options. This location is open quite late in case you need a slice at 1 am - given that most of Chicago restaurants close early, this is a good thing!
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Chicago's Pizza
3114 N Lincoln Ave
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Gluten free pizza that is truly good!!!! Also good regular pizza and other options. This location is open quite late in case you need a slice at 1 am - given that most of Chicago restaurants close early, this is a good thing!
Decent sushi, close to the condo, and open late. The Pad Thai is good, but the pineapple fried rice - to me - is one of the best around with that smoky flavor not everyone seems to achieve.
Late Night Thai
1624 W Belmont Ave
Decent sushi, close to the condo, and open late. The Pad Thai is good, but the pineapple fried rice - to me - is one of the best around with that smoky flavor not everyone seems to achieve.
Typical Starbucks - coffee drinks, sandwiches, pastries, and the like.
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Starbucks
1588 N Milwaukee Ave
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Typical Starbucks - coffee drinks, sandwiches, pastries, and the like.
Gluten free? Like small plates? Make sure you stop here. It is one of the many Lettuce Entertain You group restaurant offerings - and ALL of their restaurants are excellent if you have dietary restrictions. Steve is celiac, so we do not eat out as often as some people, however Lettuce Entertain You restaurants have made it much easier for us. Other excellent options are Summer House Santa Monica, Mon Ami Gabi and Beatrix.
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Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!
2024 N Halsted St
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Gluten free? Like small plates? Make sure you stop here. It is one of the many Lettuce Entertain You group restaurant offerings - and ALL of their restaurants are excellent if you have dietary restrictions. Steve is celiac, so we do not eat out as often as some people, however Lettuce Entertain You restaurants have made it much easier for us. Other excellent options are Summer House Santa Monica, Mon Ami Gabi and Beatrix.
They gave gluten free options right on the menu. For a celiac, that is wonderful!
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Opart Thai House
4658 North Western Avenue
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They gave gluten free options right on the menu. For a celiac, that is wonderful!
Typical Chicago diner...but one of the most friendly and Steve has never gotten sick eating there. As a celiac, this is important to us! He sticks to omelettes and skillets.
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S&G Restaurant
3000 N Lincoln Ave
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Typical Chicago diner...but one of the most friendly and Steve has never gotten sick eating there. As a celiac, this is important to us! He sticks to omelettes and skillets.
This is as good as any I have had in Texas, and I used to live in Dallas. Be prepared for a wait, however!
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Smoque BBQ
3800 N Pulaski Rd
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This is as good as any I have had in Texas, and I used to live in Dallas. Be prepared for a wait, however!
This Pakastani BBQ place is awesome. Make sure you have the dal, the bhindi, and the tandoori chicken. They assure us it is gluten free and Steve has never been sick. This is just one of many excellent Indian and Pakistani restaurants on Devon. If you like Indian food, make sure you take a trip here and walk around. Parking is a nightmare, so use a ride sharing app or take a taxi.
Khan Barbeque Restaurant
2401 W Devon Ave
This Pakastani BBQ place is awesome. Make sure you have the dal, the bhindi, and the tandoori chicken. They assure us it is gluten free and Steve has never been sick. This is just one of many excellent Indian and Pakistani restaurants on Devon. If you like Indian food, make sure you take a trip here and walk around. Parking is a nightmare, so use a ride sharing app or take a taxi.
The first time I walked by this ice cream store, there was a line out the door and down the street! It usually isn't that busy, but there almost always is a line. They have interesting flavors and must be doing something right!
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Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams
1505 N Milwaukee Ave
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The first time I walked by this ice cream store, there was a line out the door and down the street! It usually isn't that busy, but there almost always is a line. They have interesting flavors and must be doing something right!
Scooter's continually wins awards for the top (or one of the top) ice cream spots in the city. It's just a block away and you definitely need to try it at least once. They offer what is called custard here in the Midwest US - it is a smooth and rich tasting soft-serve ice cream. In addition to cones, they serve sundaes, floats, and concretes (candy blended with the custard, a type of thick shake). They also have Italian ice in case you want something non-dairy.
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Scooter's Frozen Custard
1658 W Belmont Ave
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Scooter's continually wins awards for the top (or one of the top) ice cream spots in the city. It's just a block away and you definitely need to try it at least once. They offer what is called custard here in the Midwest US - it is a smooth and rich tasting soft-serve ice cream. In addition to cones, they serve sundaes, floats, and concretes (candy blended with the custard, a type of thick shake). They also have Italian ice in case you want something non-dairy.
You would have to have a car or take a ride-share to get here, but in my mind, it's worth it! Most of the workers speak limited English and the items are what you'd find in Mexico or Southwest US at a paleteria y neveria. The mango con chile ice cream is my favorite ice cream anywhere in the US that I've gone. Of course, Steve doesn't like it at all, so it could be an acquired taste! They also have elotes in a cup and other snack foods.
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La Michoacana Premium
1855 S Blue Island Ave
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You would have to have a car or take a ride-share to get here, but in my mind, it's worth it! Most of the workers speak limited English and the items are what you'd find in Mexico or Southwest US at a paleteria y neveria. The mango con chile ice cream is my favorite ice cream anywhere in the US that I've gone. Of course, Steve doesn't like it at all, so it could be an acquired taste! They also have elotes in a cup and other snack foods.

Essentials

If you have been, you already know if you like it. If you are new to it, it is a small store with produce, bread, dairy, frozen, etc. You can get most staples there. They are known for lower prices than a Whole Foods, for example, but that type of quality.
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Trader Joe's
667 W Diversey Pkwy
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If you have been, you already know if you like it. If you are new to it, it is a small store with produce, bread, dairy, frozen, etc. You can get most staples there. They are known for lower prices than a Whole Foods, for example, but that type of quality.
Traditional, large US-style grocery store with a pharmacy. Produce, deli, hot foods, salad bar, paper goods, and more. There is a Starbucks inside.
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Jewel-Osco
3531 N Broadway
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Traditional, large US-style grocery store with a pharmacy. Produce, deli, hot foods, salad bar, paper goods, and more. There is a Starbucks inside.
Opened in 2017, this is a lovely store with a huge hot food bar, a bakery, gelato, pizza made to order, and more. If you have not been before, some of the organic prices may surprise you. The regular items are surprisingly low-priced in my opinion, but you have to know what to get! The fish has always been fresh and the meat has always been excellent when I have been there.
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Whole Foods Market
3640 N Halsted St
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Opened in 2017, this is a lovely store with a huge hot food bar, a bakery, gelato, pizza made to order, and more. If you have not been before, some of the organic prices may surprise you. The regular items are surprisingly low-priced in my opinion, but you have to know what to get! The fish has always been fresh and the meat has always been excellent when I have been there.
Part pharmacy, part beauty supply, part convenience store.
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Walgreens
4801 N Lincoln Ave
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Part pharmacy, part beauty supply, part convenience store.
Similar to the one on Ashland Ave.; this one may have even more gluten free groceries.
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Jewel-Osco
3531 N Broadway
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Similar to the one on Ashland Ave.; this one may have even more gluten free groceries.
This is one of the larger Targets in the city. Clothing, pharmacy, electronics, groceries, furniture, and more.
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Target
4466 N Broadway
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This is one of the larger Targets in the city. Clothing, pharmacy, electronics, groceries, furniture, and more.
This is one of the new smaller city-Targets. If you are new to Target, it is what is called a Big Box store in the US and has home goods, clothing, kitchen and bath items, some furniture, and so on. These smaller ones are a scaled down version - this one has a small grocery section and includes some clothes, kitchen goods, some alcohol, and so on.
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Target
4466 N Broadway
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This is one of the new smaller city-Targets. If you are new to Target, it is what is called a Big Box store in the US and has home goods, clothing, kitchen and bath items, some furniture, and so on. These smaller ones are a scaled down version - this one has a small grocery section and includes some clothes, kitchen goods, some alcohol, and so on.
Haven't used them often, but they were good when I did.
A+ Cleaners
3336 N Lincoln Ave
Haven't used them often, but they were good when I did.
This is a long walk and public transportation doesn't go this way, so you likely would want a car or to rent a bike if you go. They have some very good items; it's the least expensive place for groceries, particularly organic or gluten free, around. The weekly special buys are often fun and always interesting.
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ALDI
2431 W Montrose Ave
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This is a long walk and public transportation doesn't go this way, so you likely would want a car or to rent a bike if you go. They have some very good items; it's the least expensive place for groceries, particularly organic or gluten free, around. The weekly special buys are often fun and always interesting.

Arts & Culture

Lincoln Belmont Branch, Chicago Public Library
1659 W Melrose St
A typical city library branch.
Museum with lovely park grounds.
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Peggy Notebaert Naturmuseum
2430 N Cannon Dr
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Museum with lovely park grounds.
Beautiful building with gorgeous stained glass dome. Also, they have events regularly. Go here to see other events the city is sponsoring: https://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/events.html
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Chicago Cultural Center
78 E Washington St
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Beautiful building with gorgeous stained glass dome. Also, they have events regularly. Go here to see other events the city is sponsoring: https://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/events.html
World Class art museum!
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The Art Institute of Chicago
111 S Michigan Ave
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World Class art museum!
Beautiful architecture; worth walking down Lincoln Avenue and looking at it. Or, go to their mass in German.
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St Alphonsus Church
1429 W Wellington Ave
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Beautiful architecture; worth walking down Lincoln Avenue and looking at it. Or, go to their mass in German.

Parks & Nature

Lovely park with access to the public zoo. Farmers Market is there in the summer months.
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Lincoln Park
500-5700 N Lake Shore Dr
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Lovely park with access to the public zoo. Farmers Market is there in the summer months.
Because: Buckingham Fountain (summer), The Bean, Skating in the Park (winter), multiple events (Blues Fest to symphonies), and fun people watching while taking a lovely walk.
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Millennium Park
201 E Randolph St
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Because: Buckingham Fountain (summer), The Bean, Skating in the Park (winter), multiple events (Blues Fest to symphonies), and fun people watching while taking a lovely walk.

Everything Else

Great for people watching. There are some events here, several restaurants, an IMAX theater, and you can go on boat rides, rent a bike or rent a Segway and ride up and down the lakefront.
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Navy Pier
600 E Grand Ave
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Great for people watching. There are some events here, several restaurants, an IMAX theater, and you can go on boat rides, rent a bike or rent a Segway and ride up and down the lakefront.

Entertainment & Activities

Lovely place to bike or walk through. There is a dog park and it is fun to watch them. The Lakefront Bike/Walking path runs through it - it goes all the way north to Edgewater and many miles south to the University of Chicago.
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Belmont Harbor
3600 N Recreation Dr
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Lovely place to bike or walk through. There is a dog park and it is fun to watch them. The Lakefront Bike/Walking path runs through it - it goes all the way north to Edgewater and many miles south to the University of Chicago.
This is an art theatre - they show a wide variety of films, including foreign, new, old, and so on. We love to go just before the Academy Awards and see the short films, for example. They have REAL melted butter for the popcorn and serve alcohol.
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Music Box Theatre
3733 N Southport Ave
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This is an art theatre - they show a wide variety of films, including foreign, new, old, and so on. We love to go just before the Academy Awards and see the short films, for example. They have REAL melted butter for the popcorn and serve alcohol.
Great urban zoo, lovely grounds for strolling, free, and just off the lake. You can rent paddle boats in the summer, or walk over the bridge to the lake and play volleyball or walk on the lakefront path.
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Lincoln Park Zoo
2001 N Clark St
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Great urban zoo, lovely grounds for strolling, free, and just off the lake. You can rent paddle boats in the summer, or walk over the bridge to the lake and play volleyball or walk on the lakefront path.

Drinks & Nightlife

We used to be in 9 Ball league here. Laid back vibe and lots of fun.
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Southport Lanes & Billiards
3325 N Southport Ave
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We used to be in 9 Ball league here. Laid back vibe and lots of fun.